In 2022, DPM (Derek Prince Ministries) started Project Septuagint: a unified effort to subtitle and voice-over Derek Prince’s 70 most influential video sermons in 70 different languages. The goal is to make this solid Bible teaching freely available to all people—regardless of language or ability. These subtitles will also enable voiceovers so people can hear Derek’s messages in their own heart language, helping those who are visually impaired or do not speak English.
Already, translation has begun in Arabic, Swedish, Polish, French, Portuguese, Croatian, Bulgarian, Italian, Indonesian, Serbian, Amharic, Zulu, Xhosa, Tagalog, Farsi, Haitian, Ukrainian, and Russian, with Hindi and Tamil on the horizon.
Behind the Scenes: The Translators
Our Digital team built a custom translation tool to support the Septuagint Project. But no tool can replace the human heart behind the words. One such translator is Kees, a Dutchman living in Israel.
“In the early 1990s, I attended a conference in Jerusalem where Derek was speaking. I was deeply depressed at the time, and I got relief. I also received the gift of tongues there.”
"No tool can replace the human heart behind the words."
Kees didn’t engage with Derek Prince’s teaching again for many years. But recently, sensing the lack of exposure in Messianic Jewish circles, he began translating Derek's sermons into Hebrew so Hebrew believers could access the teachings themselves.
Why Hebrew Translation Matters
“All translation work starts with listening carefully, sentence after sentence. Bible verses need to be compared with the Hebrew Tanach because the Hebrew basic meaning can be slightly different from the English translation that Derek uses. But translating into Hebrew brings more challenges than just grammatical ones.
"When Jews come to faith, they don’t become Christians. A Jew following the Anointed One is a fully justified Jew who has finally received the fulfillment of God’s promises made to Abraham. That’s why I am sensitive to “Christian” language in a sermon."
For example, when Derek says, “We Christians should do so and so”, I translate this to, “We Messianic.” Why? Because for 2000 years, part of Christianity has been persecuting the Jews. It can be deeply offensive for a Jewish believer to be called a Christian. We don’t want a Jewish person to be sidetracked by language, but rather to understand the teaching of Derek in that video.”
Faithfulness Through Crisis
Kees enjoys the spiritual aspect of his work as a Septuagint translator. The translation work also became a lifeline in times of need.
“So far, I have translated all 110 Word from the Word video series, and almost 40 full sermons. There is no better, deeper way of studying the Bible than by translating it.”
“When I started this work, our family was going through turbulent times. My Jewish wife Miriam passed away in 2009. Then our sons joined the Israeli army. I had just returned from Uzbekistan where I was to start a small mushroom farm, when Covid hit and the borders closed. Being out of a job, I started working as a guard at a drug rehabilitation facility, close to the Westbank, but the income was not sufficient. The translation work helped me provide for my family.”
Later, when he was working on a farm in Upper Galilee, mortar attacks shut down farming activity. Again, translating Derek Prince’s sermons gave Kees both purpose and provision.
There is no better, deeper way of studying the Bible than by translating it.
How War Impacts Spiritual Hunger in Israel
“War is nothing new here. But in this latest conflict, more people are asking questions and seeking God. During Covid we saw the same. Ministries putting Hebrew materials on YouTube saw increased views and inquiries. You could say, weirdly, it’s a reason to praise the Lord for Covid and war.”
Why Translation and Subtitling Matter
Subtitling Derek's video sermons on YouTube is not just about translation; it's about enhancing accessibility and reach in a rapidly globalizing digital age.
Benefits of Video Subtitling and Translation:
- Makes Derek Prince's teaching accessible worldwide
- Supports spiritual seekers in restricted nations
- Enables Bible access for the hearing or visually impaired
- Helps believers hear the gospel in their heart language—and the heart is where transformation begins
